Electrical connector assembly with moveable contact elements

ABSTRACT

An electrical connector containing one or more connector modules, each having at least one contact support and a multiplicity of contact elements connected to the contact support in a non-releasable manner. The contact elements are connected to the contact supports by way of plastic material injection molded around part of the contact elements.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. The Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a device according to the genericclause of claim 1, i.e. to an electrical connector comprising amultiplicity of contact elements.

2. Technical Background

Electrical connectors have been known for many years in a multitude offorms.

Due to the continuous increase in complexity and efficiency ofelectronic systems, there are also ever increasing requirements as tothe electrical connections between the system components. In thisregard, there is an increasing demand of electrical connectors which onthe one hand operate reliably under all circumstances, i.e. also underhigh mechanical and electrical loads, and which on the other hand haveas many contacts as possible while being as small as possible.

There are already various electrical connectors known in which attemptshave been made of fulfilling the requirements mentioned.

In this context, the electrical connectors should be mentioned that areused for connecting LCD units to the apparatus controlling the same. Tothis end, there are usually employed electrical connectors havingpress-on contacts, with the press-on contacts being realized by a verydense arrangement of conductive elastomer portions in a non-conductiveelastomer. The connections to be established via such electricalconnectors are of relatively high impedance and moreover necessitateextremely clean conditions.

These problems can be solved at least in part by making use ofcorrespondingly small and multi-position connectors.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Multi-position connectors of miniaturized configuration are known fromWO 95/24748 and WO 96/08056. However, connectors of this type are notsusceptible of reliable control, both in manufacture and in handlingthereof, and the same thus holds analogously for the electricalconnections established by such electrical connectors.

It is thus the object of the present invention to provide amulti-position miniaturized connector that is capable of reliablyestablishing electrical connections of high quality.

According to the invention, this object is met by the features claimedin the characterizing part of claim 1.

The latter provides that the electrical connector contains one or moreconnector modules, each thereof comprising at least one contact supportand a multiplicity of contact elements connected to said contact supportand extending along the surface of the same.

Due to the arrangement of the contact elements along the surface of acontact support, they can be reliably arranged and held in predeterminedpositions without a problem. In addition thereto, when they arecontacted with other contact elements, they have to be capable ofwithstanding no or just minimum mechanical loads. At any rate, possiblyoccurring mechanical loads do not entail a change of the contact elementposition or damage of the contact elements. This holds also for theevent that the contact elements are of weak mechanical design. Thecontact elements thus can be made very small and/or have a very densearrangement.

If, for example, very narrow metal strips are used as contact elementsand these are connected to the contact support supporting the same, forexample, by having plastics material injection-molded thereto, which ispossible without any problem with the claimed construction of theelectrical connector, a multi-position miniature connector can beprovided by means of which electrical connections of high quality can bereliably established.

Advantageous developments of the invention are indicated in thedependent claims, the following description and the drawing figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following, the invention will be described in more detail by wayof embodiments with reference to the drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of connector modules of the electricalconnectors described in more detail hereinafter,

FIG. 2 shows a frontal plan view of a connector plug containing aplurality of plug modules according to FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 shows a frontal plan view of a connector coupling membercontaining a plurality of coupling modules according to FIG. 1,

FIG. 4A shows a cross-sectional view of the plug according to FIG. 2,

FIG. 4B shows a cross-sectional view of the coupling member according toFIG. 3,

FIG. 4C shows a cross-sectional view of an assembly in which a plugaccording to FIG. 2 and a coupling member according to FIG. 3 are mated,

FIG. 4D is a view similar to that of FIG. 4C, showing relative movementin the contact parts adjacent the kinked section.

FIG. 5 shows a bottom plan view of a base of the plug according to FIG.2 or of the coupling member according to FIG. 3, said base beingmountable on a circuit board by way of the BGA technology, and

FIG. 6 shows a bottom plan view of a modified base of the plug accordingto FIG. 2 or of the coupling member according to FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The electrical connectors described hereinafter are circuit boardconnectors. However, it is to be pointed out already here that there isno restriction thereto. The special features of the electricalconnectors described may also be applied to electrical connectorsemployed for other purposes.

As is usual with pluggable connectors, an electrical connection isestablished by mating an electrical connector in the form of a plug andan electrical connector in the form of a coupling member.

In the embodiment illustrated, the plug comprises a multiplicity ofidentical plug modules arranged side by side and/or on top of eachother. The same holds for the coupling member. The latter comprises amultiplicity of identical coupling modules arranged side by side and/oron top of each other. However, the invention is not restricted to this.The plug and the coupling member may also contain only one module or aplurality of not identical modules.

A plug module and a coupling module are shown in a perspective view inFIG. 1. The plug module is designated SM and the coupling module isdesignated KM. The plug module SM is adapted to be inserted into thecoupling module KM.

In the embodiment illustrated, each connector module (each plug moduleand each coupling module) comprises 32 contact elements. However, thenumber of contact elements may also be arbitrarily higher or lower.

If a plurality of such plug modules SM is arranged above each otherand/or beside each other on a base that is preferably common to all plugmodules and if these are enclosed by a common housing, one arrives atthe electrical plug described in more detail herein. The front view ofsuch an electrical connector is shown in FIG. 2.

The same holds for the coupling modules KM in corresponding manner. If aplurality of such coupling modules KM is arranged on top of each otherand/or side by side on a base that is preferably common to all couplingmodules and if these are enclosed by a common housing, one arrives atthe electrical coupling member described in more detail herein. Thefront view of such an electrical connector is shown in FIG. 3.

FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C illustrate cross-sectional views of the electricalconnectors according to FIGS. 2 and 3. To iso be precise, FIG. 4A showsa cross-sectional view of the plug according to FIG. 2, FIG. 4B shows across-sectional view of the coupling member according to FIG. 3, andFIG. 4C shows the plug according to FIG. 2 and the coupling memberaccording to FIG. 3 in the mated state.

The plug illustrated in FIG. 4A comprises a base 1 (already mentionedhereinbefore), a housing 2 (also already mentioned) and one or more plugmodules SM, with each plug module SM consisting of a contact support 3and a multiplicity of contact elements 4.

In the embodiment shown, there is provided one single contact support 3for each plug module SM; each contact support 3 has mounted thereon allcontact elements of the respective plug modules. However, the inventionis not restricted to this design. Basically, there may be an arbitrarynumber of contact supports provided for each plug module SM.

As can be seen in particular from FIGS. 1 and 2, the contact elements 4are arranged on the contact support 3 carrying the same in the form oftwo mutually opposing contact element rows. Although this is presentlydeemed to be the optimum arrangement, the invention is not restrictedthereto.

In the embodiment shown, the contact elements 4 are constituted byrelatively long and relatively narrow metal strips with as high rigidityas possible. In a portion 41 located relatively far to the rear, theyhave a (preferably multiply) curved or kinked path (e.g. of zig-zagshape). The contact elements 4 of the plug and/or of the coupling memberin addition thereto have in the front portion (the portion provided forestablishing contact with the contact elements of the coupling memberand the plug, respectively) at least one, but preferably two or morebulges or equivalent designs of the contact elements. In the embodimentshown, it is the contact elements 4 of the plug that are provided withthese bulges; these bulges bear the reference numeral 42.

The bent or kinked portion 41 of the contact elements 4 renders possiblethat the parts of the contact elements located on either side, i.e. bothsides of said portion are movable relative to each other. (FIG. 4B). Inthe properly assembled condition of the electrical connector, portion 41comes to lie in a cavity 11 of the electrical connector present betweenbase 1 and contact support 3, and thus renders possible that thelocation of the contact element, and more strictly speaking the locationof the plug modules containing the same may still vary and/or be changedto a certain extent with respect to the proper normal position also inthe assembled state of the plug, both in the longitudinal direction ofthe contact elements 4 and in the direction transverse to saidlongitudinal direction. This turns out to be advantageous both in termsof manufacture of the electrical connector and in terms of use thereof.

The bulges 42 (or comparable designs of the contact elements) constituteresilient contact locations via which the contact elements 4 of the plugare contacted with the contact elements of the coupling member. If, asin the embodiment shown, there are provided several contact locationestablishing bulges or the like on each contact element, the respectivecontact elements may be contacted at multiple locations with the contactelements to be contacted, and thus are multiple contact elementspermitting particularly good and reliable connections to be establishedwith other contact elements.

The contact elements 4 are each arranged so as to extend along thesurface of the contact supports 3 carrying them and are, held in theproper position on the respective contact support 3 by having plasticsmaterial injection-molded around part thereof.

In case of the plug, the contact supports 3 are constituted by railsprovided with groove-like recesses 31 at those locations where thecontact elements 4 are supposed to come to lie, i.e. on mutuallyopposing longitudinal sides.

In assembling the contact elements 4 on the contact supports 3, thecontact elements 4 are inserted into the groove-like recesses 31 andthen are fixed to the respective contact support by injection-moldingaround the rear end of the contact support 3 and the contact elementparts located there.

The contact elements 4 then are mounted to the contact support 3 suchthat the front end thereof terminates a distance before the front end ofcontact support 3 and that the rear end thereof, inclusive of the bentor kinked portion 41, projects beyond the rear end of contact support 3.

In the embodiment shown, the portions without injection-molding of theparts of the contact elements arranged in the groove-like recesses 31 ofcontact support 3 are not attached to the contact support 3. However,the contact elements are designed and injection-molded to the contactsupports such that the non-molded portions thereof extending through thegroove-like recesses 31 are resiliently urged against the bottom of therecess 31 through which they extend. It is ensured in this manner thatthe contact elements—although these are each attached to the contactsupports at one single location only—cannot or, at any rate, cannoteasily leave the groove-like recesses.

By way of the design and assembly of the contact elements as describedhereinbefore, these can be reliably held in their proper position evenif they are of very small and/or weak design and/or if they weresubjected to mechanical loads.

Due to the afore-mentioned injection molding operation around contactsupport 3, the latter is provided with a collar 32 at the rear endthereof. This collar, as will still be described in more detail, can beutilized for mounting the contact supports (the plug modules containingthe contact supports) within the plug. By way of the afore-describedconnection of contact support and contact elements, the plug module thusdoes not become larger than without such a connection.

As regards the contact support 3, it is to be noted furthermore that thesame is tapered at the front end thereof (where no contact elements areprovided). This serves for centering the mutually associated plug andcoupling modules during mating of plug and coupling member.

A contact support 3 and the contact elements arranged thereon as justdescribed constitute a plug module SM of the type shown in FIG. 1.

A plurality of the plug modules SM that can be configured and made asdescribed hereinbefore can be combined with the afore-mentioned base 1and the afore-mentioned housing 2 so as to form a plug of the typeaccording to FIG. 2.

In the embodiment shown, the base 1 is a plate-like member designed atthe top thereof for placement of a plurality of plug modules SM and ofthe housing 2, and designed at the bottom thereof for soldering the rearends of the contact elements 4 to the base 1 and for mounting the base 1on a circuit board, not shown in the drawings.

The base 1 is formed in its bottom with a multiplicity of holes providedfor passage of the rear ends of the contact elements 4. The top side ofthe base bottom is provided in addition with the recesses which, in theassembled state of the plug, constitute the already mentioned cavities11. In assembling the plug modules SM on the base 1, the rear ends ofthe contact elements 4 are passed through the holes in the base bottomand are soldered or otherwise electrically and/or mechanically connectedto the base on the bottom side thereof or to elements provided forconnecting the base to the circuit board. The bent or kinked portions 41of the contact elements 4 come to lie in the recesses of base 1 thatconstitute the cavities 11 of the plug.

In the embodiment illustrated, the housing 2 is a trough-like structurehaving a bottom 21 and side walls 22. Bottom 21 is provided withopenings through which the forward parts of the plug modules SM can bepassed.

The rear ends of the plug modules SM, which carry the collars 32, cannotpass the openings in the housing bottom.

In the assembled state of the plug, the plug module parts not fittingthrough the housing bottom openings come to lie between the housing 2and the base 1, as shown in exemplary manner in FIG. 4A. Housing 2 isconnected to base 1, for example, by an adhesive bond, a locking-typeconnection or other connection. Thus, base 1, housing 2 and plug modulesSM thus are combined to form an integral unit.

In the assembled state of the plug, as described, the side walls 22 ofhousing 2 extend around the portion of the plug containing the plugmodules. These walls project beyond the front ends of the plug modules.

The front end of the housing side walls 22 is provided with a taper 23on the inside thereof. This taper serves for centering plug housing andcoupling member housing when plug and coupling member are mated.

In the embodiment illustrated, the coupling member for connection to theplug designed and made as described hereinbefore, is of differentconstruction and manufactured differently than the plug.

As can be seen in particular from FIG. 4B, the coupling member comprisesa base 6, a housing 7 and a plurality of coupling modules KM, with eachcoupling module KM consisting of a contact support 8 and a multiplicityof contact elements 9.

In the embodiment illustrated, there is provided for each couplingmodule KM one single contact support 8 each; each thereof has mountedthereon all contact elements 9 of the respective coupling modules.However, the invention is not restricted to this design. Basically, itis possible for each coupling module KM to have an arbitrary number ofcontact supports 8.

As can be seen in particular from FIGS. 1 and 3, the contact elements 9are arranged on their supporting contact support 8 in two mutuallyopposing contact element rows. Although this is presently deemed to bethe optimum arrangement, the invention is not restricted thereto.

In so far, there is conformity with the plug according to FIG. 4A. Theindividual components of the coupling member, however, are differentfrom the corresponding components of the plug.

In the embodiment illustrated, the contact elements 9, just like thecontact elements 4 of the plug, are constituted by relatively long andrelatively narrow metal strips with as high rigidity as possible. In aportion 91 located relatively far to the rear, they have a (preferablymultiply) curved or kinked path (e.g. of zig-zag shape), but areotherwise of straight design.

The bent or kinked portion 91 of the contact elements 9 renders possiblethat the parts of the contact elements 9 located on either side thereofare movable relative to each other. In the properly assembled conditionof the electrical connector, portion 91 comes to lie in a cavity 61 ofthe electrical connector present between base 6 and contact support 8,and thus renders possible that the location of the contact elements 9,and more strictly speaking the location of the coupling modulescontaining the same may still vary and/or be changed to a certain extentwith respect to the proper normal position also in the mated state ofthe coupling member, both in the longitudinal direction of the contactelements and in the direction transverse to said longitudinal direction.This turns out to be advantageous both in terms of manufacture of theelectrical connector and in terms of use thereof.

The contact elements 9 are each arranged so as to extend along thesurface of the contact supports 8 carrying the same. In this case,however, the contact support 8 is injection-molded to the contactelements which prior thereto were properly arranged and aligned (andinserted in an injection-molding means). Injection-molding of thecontact support 8 to the contact elements 9 means for the contactelements 9 a partial injection-molding of plastics material around thesame. Due to this molding operation, the contact elements are attachedto the contact support 8 formed by such injection-molding, with suchattachment being effected over the entire length of the contact elementportions extending along the contact support 8.

In the embodiment illustrated, the contact supports 8 are constituted bysleeves of rectangular cross-section which on two confronting insidesare provided with a row of contact elements 9 each and at the rear endthereof have a collar 82 extending around the contact support 8.

The contact elements 9 are arranged on the contact support 8 such thatthe front end thereof terminates a distance before the front end of thecontact support 8 and that the rear end thereof, inclusive of the bentor kinked portion 81 projects beyond the rear end of the contact support8.

The part of the contact elements extending along the surface of contactsupport 8, in the embodiment illustrated, is connected to the contactsupport 8 along the entire length thereof. The contact elements 9 thuscan be reliably held in their proper position, even if they are of verysmall and/or weak design and even if they were subjected to mechanicalloads.

A contact support 8 and the contact elements 9 arranged thereon as justdescribed constitute a coupling module KM of the type shown in FIG. 1.

The contact support 8 is tapered on the inside edge on its front end(where no contact elements are provided). This serves for centering themutually associated plug and coupling modules when plug and couplingmember are mated.

A plurality of the coupling modules KM that can be configured and madeas described hereinbefore can be combined with the afore-mentioned base6 and the afore-mentioned housing 7 so as to form a coupling member ofthe type according to FIG. 3.

In the example shown, the base 6 is a plate-like member designed at thetop thereof for placement of a plurality of coupling modules KM and ofthe housing 2, and designed at the bottom thereof for soldering the rearends of the contact elements 9 to the base 6 and for mounting the base 6on a circuit board, not shown in the drawings. The base 6 is formed inits bottom with a multiplicity of holes provided for passage of the rearends of the contact elements 9. The top side of the base bottom isprovided in addition with the recesses which, in the assembled state ofthe coupling member, constitute the already mentioned cavities 61. Inassembling the coupling modules KM on the base 6, the rear ends of thecontact elements 9 are passed through the holes in the base bottom andare soldered or otherwise electrically and/or mechanically connected tothe base on the bottom side thereof or to elements provided forconnecting the base to the circuit board. The bent or kinked portions 91of the contact elements 9 thus come to lie in the recesses of the basethat constitute the cavities 61 of the coupling member.

In the embodiment illustrated, the housing 7 is a profiled member ofrectangular cross-section that is open at the top and at the bottom andhas an inner portion subdivided by intermediate walls 72 extendingparallel to the outer walls 71. By way of the outer and intermediatewalls 71 and 72, a multiplicity of channels is defined that are arrangedside by side and on top of each other, with each channel being adaptedto receive a coupling module. The outer and intermediate walls 71, 72 ofhousing 7 extend around each individual coupling module when thecoupling modules are in the state attached to the base and the housing.

The outer and intermediate 71 and 72 have projections 711 and 721 whichproject into the channels and, in the assembled state of the couplingmember, come to lie shortly above the collars 82 of the coupling modulesKM; the collars 82 of the coupling modules, in the assembled state ofthe coupling member, come to lie between base 6 and housing 7, as shownin exemplary manner in FIG. 4B.

The housing 7 is connected to the base 6, for example, by an adhesivebond, a locking-type connection or other connection. Base 6, housing 7and coupling modules KM thus are combined to form an integral unit.

In the assembled state of the coupling member, as described, the walls71 and 72 of housing 7 extend around each individual one of the couplingmodules of the coupling member. The housing parts (walls 71, 72)enclosing the coupling modules project beyond the front ends of thecoupling modules.

The front end of outer walls 71 of housing 7 are provided with a taper712 on the outsides thereof. This taper serves to center plug housingand coupling housing when plug and coupling member are being mated.

Upon mating of plug and coupling member, the front ends of housings 2and 7 meet first, since at least one of the housings, but preferablyboth housings, extend beyond the front ends of plug and/or couplingmodules. Due to the tapers 23 and 712 provided at the front ends of thehousings, the housings are centered relative to each other and may thuseasily be slid onto each other. In the embodiment illustrated, the plughousing is slid over the coupling housing. When the housings 2 and 7meet, the plug modules and the coupling modules still are a distanceapart from each other. Sliding of the housings 2 and 7 onto each otherthus may effect pre-centering of the same—without any forces acting onthe plug modules and the coupling modules.

While the plug housing is being slid onto the coupling housing, theassociated plug and coupling modules sooner or later meet. As these aretapered on their front ends as well and since, moreover, they arealready pre-centered, they can be inserted into each other substantiallywithout any mechanical loads being exerted thereon.

In the embodiment illustrated, this is enhanced further by the fact thatthe plug modules and/or the coupling modules are movable relative toeach other and/or relative to the respective housings and/or bases.

With regard to the plug modules, this movability is achieved in that

-   -   the plug modules are attached to the plug “only” in that a        predetermined part of the plug modules (the collar 32 in the        embodiment illustrated) is held more or less loosely between        base 1 and housing 2 (between collar 32 and the parts of base 1        and housing 2 surrounding the same, there are provided spaces        permitting movements of the respective plug module to a certain        extent in the assembled state of the plug as well), and    -   the contact elements 4 have a bent or kinked portion (portion        41) which comes to lie in a cavity (cavity 11) provided between        base 1 and housing 2 and thus to a certain extent permits        relative movements of the contact element parts located on        either side of portion 41 in the assembled state of the plug as        well.

The plug modules thus can at least slightly move relative to each otherand/or relative to the other plug components.

With respect to the coupling modules that are movable in this manner aswell, the movability is achieved in that

-   -   the coupling modules are attached to the coupling member “only”        in that a predetermined part of the coupling modules (the collar        82 in the embodiment illustrated) is held more or less loosely        between base 61 and housing 72 (between collar 82 and the parts        of base 6 and housing 7 surrounding the same, there are provided        spaces permitting movements of the respective coupling module to        a certain extent in the assembled state of the plug as well),        and    -   the contact elements 9 have a bent or kinked portion (portion        91) which comes to lie in a cavity (cavity 61) provided between        base 6 and housing 7 and thus to a certain extent permits        relative movements of the contact element parts located on        either side of portion 91 in the assembled state of the coupling        member as well.

The coupling modules thus can at least slightly move relative to eachother and/or relative to the other coupling member components.

Due to the mutually independent floating arrangement of the plug modulesSM within the plug and the mutually in dependent floating arrangement ofthe coupling modules KM in the coupling member, the plug modules and thecoupling modules can align optimally with respect to each other in allsituations, whereby they can at all times be properly matedautomatically and without or at any rate without significant mechanicalloads being exerted on the modules and the connectors containing thesame.

This holds even if the components of the plugs and coupling members arenot manufactured and/or assembled exactly according to specificationsand/or if their positions and/or their dimensions vary (e.g. due toslight damages or temperature fluctuations).

In mating plug and coupling member, each plug contact element 4establishes contact with the associated coupling member contact element9 at multiple locations. It is thus possible to establish electricalconnections of highest quality.

The coupling member contact elements 9, during mating with the plugcontact elements 4, come to lie in the groove-like recesses 31 of theplug modules; the webs of the contact support 3 of the plug, which arepresent between adjacent groove-like recesses 31, in the mated state ofplug and coupling member, extend up to the contact supports 8 of thecoupling member and thus separate (isolate) adjacent contact elementpairs from each other. Adjacent contact elements of the plug andcoupling modules thus cannot interfere with each other. In particular,no flow of leakage currents is possible.

Plugs and coupling members with constructions as described can be matedand unmated substantially without a risk of damage and, in doing so,permit excellent electrical connections to be established in allsituations. The connections are of low impedance, withstand highvoltages and large currents and are relatively insensitive tofluctuating or adverse effects from the surroundings, such as extremeand/or fluctuating temperatures, vibrations, moisture, dirt etc.

The properties mentioned are obtained irrespective of the size andcontact density of the electrical connectors designed and manufacturedas described hereinbefore.

The electrical connectors described thus can be made very small and/orwith high contact density with in essence the same excellent properties.

This was confirmed by tests: to this end, the electrical connectorsshown in FIGS. 2 and 8, i.e. electrical connectors each with 8 connectormodules and in total 256 contacts were realized on a space of 24.9mm×5.4 mm×9 mm (length×width×depth in the mated state).

The handling properties of the electrical connectors and the quality ofthe electrical connections that can be produced by them turned out to beexcellent.

Some technical data:

-   Range of operating temperatures:    -   −30 to +125° C.-   Current-carrying capacity per contact:    -   250 mA at 25° C.    -   150 mA at 85° C.-   Breakdown strength of adjacent contacts:    -   650 V with dc current    -   750 V with ac current-   Volume resistivity:    -   175 mΩ-   Contact resistance:    -   40 mΩ    -   4×10¹⁰ Ω

These are results that cannot even approximately be achieved using knownmulti-position miniature connectors.

For connecting the electrical connectors to the circuit board carryingthem, it is to be pointed out that the electrical connectors, to be moreprecise the bases thereof, can be mounted on circuit boards using, forexample, the so-called BGA (ball grid array) or PSGA (plastic stud gridarray) technology.

With regard to BGA technology, it is to be pointed out that the ballsmay be arranged directly at the locations where the contact elementparts passed through the base reach the bottom side of the base, or maybe arranged more or less remote therefrom.

In the latter case, i.e. if the balls are arranged more or less remotefrom the locations where the contact element parts passed through thebase reach the bottom side of the base, the contact elements or thelocations where these reach the bottom side of the base, respectively,and the balls must be electrically connected to each other viaconductive tracks or in a different manner. This is illustrated in FIG.5 in exemplary manner. The locations where the contact elements reachthe bottom side of the base are designated 15, the balls are designated16 and the conductive tracks connecting the locations to the balls 16are designated 17.

If the balls are arranged directly at the locations where the contactelements reach the bottom side of the base, these locations arepreferably positioned such that they (and the balls to be appliedthereto) are spaced apart by certain minimum distances. The locationswhere the contact elements reach the base bottom side then are no longerarranged in two opposing rows, as in case of the contact elements on thecontact supports, but are arranged, for example, in two opposing doublerows each consisting of two individual rows arranged in mutually offsetmanner (in the embodiment illustrated, by half of the distance betweenadjacent elements of the row). Such an arrangement is shown in FIG. 6.The locations where the contact elements reach the base bottom side areagain designated 15, and the balls are again designated 16. The balls 16lie on the locations 15 so that, contrary to the base according to FIG.5, there are no longer required conductive tracks for connecting thesame.

Due to the measures mentioned, it is possible in both cases, i.e. bothif the balls are arranged directly at the locations where the contactelement parts passed through the base reach the base bottom side, and ifthe balls are more or less remote from these locations, to ensure in allsituations (in particular irrespective of the contact element density ofthe respective connector modules) that the balls are spaced apart fromeach other to the extent necessary for practical application of the BGAtechnology.

Irrespective of this, plugs and coupling members of the type describedhereinbefore may also be realized with leading or trailing contacts,double contacts and power contacts.

Electrical connectors having a construction as described may be designedas multi-position miniature connectors by means of which electricalconnections of high quality can be established in reliable manner.

1. An electrical connector comprising one or more connector modules,each said connector module comprising at least one contact supporthaving groove-like recesses at those locations where contact elementsare to be provided thereon, and a multiplicity of contact elementsconnected to the contact support and extending along the surfacethereof, the contact elements being connected to the contact supports byhaving plastics material injection-molded around part thereof, whereinthe contact supports and the contact elements being supported by thesame are connected to each other in non-releasable manner, and whereinthe contact elements are inserted into the groove-like recesses of thecontact supports and, at the rear end of the contact supports, areconnected to the contact support.
 2. An electrical connector accordingto claim 1, wherein the contact elements are constituted by metalstrips.
 3. An electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein thefront ends of the contact supports are portions thereof without contactelements.
 4. An electrical connector according to claim 3, wherein thefront ends of the contact supports are provided with tapers suitable forcentering with respect to other contact elements.
 5. An electricalconnector according to claim 1, wherein the contact elements projectbeyond the rear end of the contact supports.
 6. An electrical connectoraccording to claim 5, wherein the contact elements have a bent or kinkedsection in the portion thereof extending beyond the rear end of thecontact supports.
 7. An electrical connector comprising one or moreconnector modules, each said connector module comprising at least onecontact support and a multiplicity of contact elements connected to thecontact support and extending along the surface thereof, the contactelements projecting beyond the rear end of the contact supports, and thecontact elements have a bent or kinked section in the portion thereofextending beyond the rear end of the contact supports, wherein thecontact element parts located on either side of the bent or kinkedsections are movable relative to each other also in the assembled stateof the electrical connector, wherein the contact supports and thecontact elements being supported by the same are connected to each otherin non-releasable manner, and wherein the bent or kinked sections of thecontact elements in the assembled state of the electrical connector,come to lie in a cavity contained in said connector.
 8. An electricalconnector according to claim 7, wherein the contact elements, in theregion in which they are supposed to establish contact with anassociated contact element, have one or more protuberances or bulgesacting as contact locations.
 9. An electrical connector according toclaim 8, wherein the portions of the contact elements having saidprotuberances or bulges are designed to be resilient.
 10. An electricalconnector according to claim 7, wherein the contact elements areconnected to the contact supports by having plastics materialinjection-molded around part thereof.
 11. An electrical connectoraccording to claim 7, wherein the contact supports have groove-likerecesses at those locations where contact elements are to be providedthereon.
 12. An electrical connector according to claim 11, wherein thecontact elements are inserted into the groove-like recesses of thecontact supports and, at the rear end of the contact supports, areconnected to the contact support.
 13. An electrical connector accordingto claim 12, wherein the contact elements are designed and mounted tothe contact supports such that the parts thereof extending through thegroove-like recesses, which are not injection-molded to the contactsupports, are resiliently urged against the bottom of the groove-likerecess through which they extend.
 14. An electrical connector accordingto claim 13, wherein the contact support is injection-molded to thecontact elements.
 15. An electrical connector according to claim 7,wherein the assembled state of the electrical connector, a predeterminedsection of the connector modules is inserted between other components ofthe electrical connector and thereby is held there.
 16. An electricalconnector according to claim 15, wherein said predetermined section ofthe connector modules and the other components of the electricalconnector receiving said section therebetween have spaces providedtherebetween.
 17. An electrical connector comprising one or moreconnector modules, each said connector module comprising at least onecontact support and a multiplicity of contact elements connected to thecontact support and extending along the surface thereof, wherein thecontact supports and the contact elements being supported by the sameare connected to each other in non-releasable manner, and wherein theconnector modules, in the assembled state of the electrical connector,are movable relative to each other and/or relative to other componentsof the electrical connector, and wherein the connector modules areindividually or commonly enclosed on the sides thereof by parts of ahousing.
 18. An electrical connector according to claim 17, wherein thehousing parts enclosing the connector modules project beyond the frontend of the connector modules.
 19. An electrical connector comprising oneor more connector modules, each said connector module comprising atleast one contact support and a multiplicity of contact elementsconnected to the contact support and extending along the surfacethereof, wherein the contact supports and the contact elements beingsupported by the same are connected to each other in non-releasablemanner, and wherein said connector is designed to be soldered to acircuit board using the BGA technology, and wherein the balls arearranged remote from the locations where the contact elements reach thesection of the electrical connector to be soldered to the circuit board,and that the respective locations and the associated balls are connectedto each other via conductive tracks.
 20. An electrical connectoraccording to claim 19, wherein the balls are arranged at the locationswhere the contact elements reach the section of the electrical connectorto be soldered to the circuit board, and in that the arrangement of therespective locations is selected to be different from the arrangement ofthe contact elements on the contact supports.